Jaw pain is not normal.
If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.
- Headaches
- Earaches, tenderness around the ear
- Face or jaw pain and tenderness
- Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth
What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.
Treatment and Relief
Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.
Alternative Treatment Options
If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint. If this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed we refer to that as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD for short.
Signs or symptoms of TMD include pain and tenderness in or around the ear, the jaw joint, or the muscles of the jaw, face or temples. Other symptoms are problems opening or closing your mouth, and a clicking, popping, crunching or grinding noise when you chew, yawn or open your mouth. TMDs may be linked with neck pain and headaches.
TMD is caused by a combination of factors like jaw injuries and joint disease, such as arthritis. It’s believed that bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) and head or neck muscle tension may make TMD symptoms worse. Stress is also a possible factor. However, it is not clear if stress causes TMD or is a result. Other things that may lead to TMDs are partial or full dentures that are not the right fit and certain habits such as fingernail biting and pen or pencil biting. As you can see, there are an array of different causes which makes TMD hard to diagnose. The best way to understand your jaw pain symptoms are to book an appointment.
There are many possible causes of headaches. No doctor will be able to determine the cause of your headache without a physical examination.
Most often, TMJ pain can be treated effectively with non-invasive treatments and therapies. In very rare circumstances, TMD may require surgery. Your health and happiness are both important to us. We will always present you with all of your options, work through the safest and easiest options first, and give you the final decision on what happens next.
Google Verified Patient Reviews
Nadia Chamberlain
3 weeks ago
The team at Cottage Country Dental is truly top notch. I have a big fear of going to the dentist, but this was honestly one of the best experiences I have had going to the dentist. Christine was extremely prompt when I submitted an online request for an appointment, and so lovely when I went in for my appointment. My hygienist Danielle was very gentle with the cleaning and regularly checked in throughout my appointment on how I was doing, she was honestly the best hygienist I have ever had, and big bonus she had Fleetwood Mac playing too! The dental assistant Kelly was also extremely kind and was very thorough with her explanations, more so than I have ever experienced at a dentist appointment. Dr. Danyal, while my visit was brief, was informative and very nice too. I was nervous about finding a new dentist after moving here a couple of years ago, but I am glad I chose the Cottage Country Dental team!
Vikki West
4 weeks ago
It was an excellent experience. Katherine was lovely and friendly. She put me at ease immediately. Mark was very informative and easy to talk to. Very gentle. I would recommend him anytime you need dental work done.
christine elliott
4 weeks ago
I had a very good experience not only as my initial visit as a new patient but also with my following appt for teeth extractions and a follow up. I was extremely nervous but they put me at ease and offer great options for "sleep dentistry". All in all I am very happy with Cottage Country and highly recommend them.
Zoe Grubb
3 months ago
I don’t normal take the time to write a review of places but I definitely will for this company. The level of professionalism and compassion I received at each appointment has been amazing. I was incredibly nervous and emotional for my root canal and I was met with understanding and kindness and that should not go unnoticed. Dr. Pagah Mirzakhalili and her assistant took the time to talk to me and made me feel safe and checked in with me throughout my procedure. A great company that I am happy to be a patient of now. :)
Elizabeth Crighton
5 months ago
I have been a patient for about 2 years now and have a great experience at every appointment. All the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. My brother and sister are now patients and I would highly recommend Cottage Country Dental to anyone looking for a great dental team!!!
Nadia Chamberlain
3 weeks ago
The team at Cottage Country Dental is truly top notch. I have a big fear of going to the dentist, but this was honestly one of the best experiences I have had going to the dentist. Christine was extremely prompt when I submitted an online request for an appointment, and so lovely when I went in for my appointment. My hygienist Danielle was very gentle with the cleaning and regularly checked in throughout my appointment on how I was doing, she was honestly the best hygienist I have ever had, and big bonus she had Fleetwood Mac playing too! The dental assistant Kelly was also extremely kind and was very thorough with her explanations, more so than I have ever experienced at a dentist appointment. Dr. Danyal, while my visit was brief, was informative and very nice too. I was nervous about finding a new dentist after moving here a couple of years ago, but I am glad I chose the Cottage Country Dental team!
Vikki West
4 weeks ago
It was an excellent experience. Katherine was lovely and friendly. She put me at ease immediately. Mark was very informative and easy to talk to. Very gentle. I would recommend him anytime you need dental work done.
christine elliott
4 weeks ago
I had a very good experience not only as my initial visit as a new patient but also with my following appt for teeth extractions and a follow up. I was extremely nervous but they put me at ease and offer great options for "sleep dentistry". All in all I am very happy with Cottage Country and highly recommend them.
Zoe Grubb
3 months ago
I don’t normal take the time to write a review of places but I definitely will for this company. The level of professionalism and compassion I received at each appointment has been amazing. I was incredibly nervous and emotional for my root canal and I was met with understanding and kindness and that should not go unnoticed. Dr. Pagah Mirzakhalili and her assistant took the time to talk to me and made me feel safe and checked in with me throughout my procedure. A great company that I am happy to be a patient of now. :)
Elizabeth Crighton
5 months ago
I have been a patient for about 2 years now and have a great experience at every appointment. All the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. My brother and sister are now patients and I would highly recommend Cottage Country Dental to anyone looking for a great dental team!!!
